Francis Poulenc

• Born: January 07, 1899, Paris, France
• Died: January 30, 1963, Paris, France
• Genres: Classical
• Instrument: Piano
• Representative Albums: "Figure Humaine

Biography

A French composer of many forms, including choral and vocal music, opera, piano, and orchestral works. Poulenc was described by one of his friends as "moitié moine, moitié voyou" (half monk, half guttersnipe), which seems to fit his distinct type of musical composition. The Concerto for Organ, Strings & Tympani in g and the Gloria for Soprano, Orchestra & Chorus in G are heroic and often lovely; together with his famous opera, Dialog of the Carmélites, they reflect his religious bent with dramatic gestures and clear French melodic lines. The ballet music Les biches is an example of his humor, which verges on triviality but never really falls into it. And there are works that fall somewhere in the middle, like the wonderful Sonata for Two Pianos and the Concert champêtre (1929), written for harpsichordist Wanda Landowska. ~ Blue Gene Tyranny, All Music Guide

Pulenc Plays Poulenc Buy this CD

Voix Humaine Buy this CD

French Music of the 20th Century Buy this CD

Figure Humaine Buy this CD